CREJ - Office Properties Quarterly - July 2015
The history and future of Google’s regional headquarters in Boulder exemplify many of the tech trends that are defining Colorado’s real estate landscape. The company originally began as a startup, SketchUp, which was then acquired by Google. The company’s footprint grew to include more than 300 employees focusing on product development for Google. Once the offices began to feel a space crunch, the company worked hard to find a way to grow, yet stay in the city. “Boulder is a wonderful community for us and our employees,” said Andrew Silvestri, public policy and government relations manager for Google’s central region. “We’ve had a positive relationship with the city, the university, the local tech scene, business leaders, K-12 schools and local charities. We love the idealism of Boulder, the lifestyle, the vibrant entrepreneurial culture and the passion around discussions.” While Google is a multinational company, the regional headquarters employs Boulderites, first and foremost, said Collin Kemberlin, AIA, LEED AP, principal with Tryba Architects. Maintaining the physical Boulder address and presence in the community while still having the opportunity to grow and expand was an important factor for staying in the city limits. This worked out well for Forum Real Estate Group, the project’s master developer, owner and executer, which recognized the potential possibilities for the 4.7 acres of land. “Being in Boulder, with the growing tech community, we knew that large floorplate office space was at a premium and, really, nonexistent, especially in the central business core,” said Kevin Foltz, managing director for Forum Real Estate Group. “With Boulder being such a hotbed for tech companies, whether it’s Google or many others, that are growing and want to grow in Boulder, we knew that this type of office space was going to be highly sought after.” Foltz teamed up with Tryba Architects to begin the development plans before Google signed on. From the beginning, Tryba wanted to make the campus emulate a college campus rather than a traditional office campus, said Kemberlin. The campus is designed to encourage people to gather and work around a common space that highlights different levels of physical and visual connectedness to each other and nature, which is a hallmark of creative places, he said. “Companies like Google, who are leading the charge of innovative, creative workspaces, are realizing that there are fundamental positive impacts to their bottom line, their operations, their employee health and wellness and retention, by embracing these ideas,” he said. The company has access to a strong talent pool, thanks to its relationship with the University of Colorado, as well as its proximity to other tech companies located in Boulder and Denver. Google also uses many of the recruitment strategies tech companies are known for, including flexibility in office space, work schedules and accommodations to support a wide variety of people and lifestyles, said Kemberlin. These are all attributed more and more to the millennial workforce, the target generation for tech employees. Another strong recruiting tactic is being environmentally conscious. The new campus is located near Boulder’s public transit hub, and is being designed to meet LEED Gold and wellbuilding standards, he said. “I think the tech sector tends to be forward-thinking, so they’re looking further down the road than maybe some other industries,” said Foltz. “And obviously part of that is a dedication to sustainability, green buildings and smart buildings.”